Zane Grey Estate · Photo: Nathan Simmons · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Altadena is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns
Altadena differs from California on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Altadena. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Altadena
Against towns with similar incomes, Altadena’s lead shrinks
Altadena is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, but 56% of the 4,682 towns with similar household incomes ($97K–$161K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Altadena keeps up with checkups
It beats California on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (75.9% vs 71.9%) and dentist visits (71% vs 62.8%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Altadena
1 in 13 adults have had cancer (7.9%), vs 6.4% across California. Conditions ↓
Fewer Altadena adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below California. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Altadena’s likely range.
What’s behind Altadena’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Altadena is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #209 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 95% of towns); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 59%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Altadena’s median household income is $128,720; among the 4,682 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($97K–$161K), it’s healthier than 56%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Altadena adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Out of every 100 Altadena adults…
Altadena runs below CA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.1% of Altadena adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Care in and near Altadena
1 community health center in Altadena, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Altadena; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
14 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves
How Altadena adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Altadena does better than California.
4 in 10 Altadena adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Altadena and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Altadena adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Altadena
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Altadena is better than California on 16 and worse on 3; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Altadena’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Altadena | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.4%16.7–20 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.3%11.2–13.5 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%13.1–15.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.4%22.7–28.1 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.3%10.2–12.4 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.4%30.2–34.4 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.2%35.8–40.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 22.9%21.2–24.7 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.6–10.5 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.3–8.6 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.5%4–5 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.2%3–3.5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.9%4.8–7.1 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.7%7.6–9.8 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.7%17.8–21.6 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%13.5–16.8 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.4%30.6–36.1 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.6–7.3 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%73.8–78 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71%68.8–73 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.5%88.4–90.5 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.5%73.1–77.7 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64%60.8–66.9 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.9%75.5–83.7 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.1%17.2–20.9 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.2%34.6–40 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27%24.8–29.5 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.4%11.1–13.8 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.5%10.3–12.8 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.9%6.1–7.6 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.1%9.8–12.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.4%25.3–29.6 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13%11.8–14.3 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12%10.8–13.1 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.9–6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%4.2–4.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%6.3–7.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.2–3.9 | 3.9% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Altadena
Is Altadena a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Altadena is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #209 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 56%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Altadena?
CDC estimates 25.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.7% and 28.1%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Altadena?
Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Altadena’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Altadena have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–7.3%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Altadena more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Altadena.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.